“Why won’t you let me see her? Is she an ex or something?”
He looked shocked that I would even think it, “No.”
“Then?”
“I just don’t want to lose you.” He said quietly, probably not wanting me to hear but I did.
“Baby you won’t lose me if I go see some psychic.” I laughed, “I don’t even believe her that much.”
“If you don’t believe her don’t see her.”
“It’s more of a way to ease my mind. I’m sure she’ll say it was a onetime thing and I’ll get over it. I just want to see if another attack would turn up in my cup. Then I’ll never see her again.”
His jaw tensed and he didn’t say anything. I glared at him. I just don’t get it. What could possibly be the problem?
“Whatever James…” I mumbled hating that he was being secretive about some bogus psychic.
We finished our dinner quietly and headed out of the restaurant. We stood outside for a moment in an awkward silence. He looked at me, still holding back his anger, “I have never asked you not to do anything except for this. Please just don’t see her.”
I hated admitting I was wrong and he was right. He had never asked me for anything but this. But my stupid pride was not going to let me put this down. And there had to be more to the reason why he won’t let me see her. It had to do with whatever he was keeping from me.
“Ever since that stupid mugger monster thing, whatever it was, you have been smothering me James. I get it. You’re protecting me because I’m scared and I’m so thankful for that. But I’ll never get over it if you baby me.”
“Monster?” he said sounding oddly offended.
I rolled my eyes, “James… that’s beside the point. I really like being with you. But I can’t be okay with being bossed around.” I said putting my food down and walked off towards the direction of my apartment. It’s far. But I was too angry to care and be in the awkward and quiet ride with him.
Chapter Nine
After five minutes of walking I realized I was over reacting. And I was freezing. And it was getting late and everything was making me jump.
I looked around and laughed at myself as I walked down the people-less street. Now I was the paranoid one. L.A. isn’t exactly the type of city where a lot of people are walking around at night. It’s more of a car city. Cars zoomed by one by one occasionally honking and stopping when the one before them stopped. A few drove by and yelled out obscene things to me and I could only cringe and pray that they didn’t stop the car.
I sighed and decided I should find a short cut home. I looked down an alley. Enter the scary alley and make it home ten minutes earlier but in movies that’s where all the bad things happen to the stupid girl that goes in the alley thinking it wouldn't happen to them.
Or I could walk through the city and make it home even later and possibly get kidnapped by one of the X-rated yelling men.
Either way it was scary.
Taking a deep breath I started walking down the dark alley, regretting the decision the moment I reached the middle.
“Typical.” I mumbled to myself.
I looked back to where I came from to see how far I really was and it was pretty far. I sighed and decided I had to keep going. As I turned around to continue walking, before I could even process what was happening, I was thrown against the walls.
My vision went blurry for a second from hitting the wall but I looked up and stared straight in its fire colored eyes the minute the blur passed. It was the monster again. It was definitely him. The same jet black hair, snow white skin and electric eyes were staring at me. He smiled revealing sharp his fangs as he walked towards me and squatted in front of me. His eyes were frozen onto mine and I couldn’t move. My body felt paralyzed.
“Your boyfriend was very stupid to leave you alone.” He said as my mind tried to place where I had heard his voice before. If it wasn’t for the slight growl I would probably be able to concentrate and figure it out. His face got closer and I stared at the red color and felt even more paralyzed.
“Any last wishes before I finish you off?” he smirked.
I closed my eyes and could feel him get closer and smell me as a low growl escaped his throat. I thought of the only thing I want to think of if this is my final moments alive. James.
I wish I didn’t over react and I was with him. I would probably be in his car by now, maybe he would have come in tonight for some tea or something and we could have cuddled on the couch and watched mindless television.
I opened my eyes when I didn’t feel any pain and realized that thing was even closer and moving his head towards my neck again.
Oh my God. It is a vampire… I thought to myself as I felt his nose touch my neck. He inhaled my scent up close now and a low growl vibrated in his chest sending a chill down my spine. I felt his mouth open and just as he was about to bite me he was pulled away and slammed against the wall across from me.
The other monster. I didn’t feel right calling this one a monster but I wasn’t sure what they were. He stood in front of the creepy one and growled at him. A scary deep animalistic growl that clearly said, ‘get the fuck away’. The scary one glared at him and jumped the wall to the other side. The nice one looked back at me and I stared wide eyed. Was he going to finish what the first one started with me? I guess as far as dying from a monster goes, I’d prefer it was him over the other one since he seemed nicer.
But then again his niceness would kind of be a moot point if he was only saving me so he could eat me instead.
He was about to jump the wall too but I finally got myself to stand up. “Wait!” I yelled surprising us both.
He stopped with his back facing me.
I hesitated and moved closer to him. I put my hand out to touch him and realized I was shaking. I was scared of him but I was drawn to him too. I touched his shoulder and made him turn around.
I stared into his red eyes. They were the same color as the mean one but they didn’t scare me like the one before him. They did the complete opposite. His eyes went down to my chest like the one before him did and he looked into my eyes again.
“Thank you…” I squeaked.
He stared at me and didn’t say anything. I stared at his eyes again and felt the familiarity. He looked so much like James. As if my hand had a mind of its own I was touching his slightly scruffy face. He felt like James. My heart was telling me it was James. But my head was telling me that was impossible.
He started leaning back, almost as if he was afraid of me. His skin was so warm. For some reason that surprised me. I was expecting him to be cold if he was a vampire.
“Who are you?” I finally got myself to ask.
He remained silent but kept his eyes on me. They looked so sad.
Why won’t he talk to me?
Last time he told me to run away so I know he can speak. I forced myself to pull my hand away and before I could say anything he jumped the wall and disappeared.
I heard someone running down the alley to me and I realized it was James. So it couldn’t have been James.
My knees felt weak and my head started spinning. I looked at him as he ran towards me and I fell on my knees and everything went black.
Chapter Ten
“Sorry man, I didn’t know you had a guest.” My eyes wanted to shoot open at Chris’s voice but I was too exhausted. I felt a breeze on my legs and arms around my waist tighten. I could feel the person who was holding me move. It was James.
The feel of his arms and the scent of his cologne were all too familiar. I cuddled into his arms some more, not able to wake up and listened to him and Chris. I was in a state of sleeping limbo. I wasn’t sure if I was dreaming or awake.
“She was attacked again.” James whispered to him.
“Do you think it was David?”
“It’s possible. I didn’t see it…” James whispered and suddenly stopped.
I felt myself still, are they talking about the attack.
&n
bsp; Remembering the attack from last night and suddenly awake, I stumbled out of the bed away from him and screamed from the top of my lungs.
I looked at the bed and saw a wide eyed and shirtless James. I looked around the room and realized I wasn’t in my room and being in his arms wasn’t a dream. I was okay.
“Baby, are you okay?” he asked getting out of the bed and squatting next to me. “You passed out last night, I brought you here.”
I remembered last night’s events and nodded as he wrapped his arms around me. I was okay.
I was lost in his warmth that I almost forgot that he was shirtless and I was pants-less. I pulled back and raised my eyebrow, “Where are half our clothes?”
“I normally sleep pants-less too but figured…”
I smacked his arm and he flinched before rubbed his arm. He had a mischievous smirk as I looked down to see I was wearing one of his t-shirts. It barely covered anything. I looked up at him wide eyed. “I swear I didn’t look… that much.”
I raised my eyebrow at him and pushed him onto the ground. I brought my lips to his as his hands pulled my body to his. He rolled us over so that he was on top and he started to kiss me all over my face making me giggle from the ticklish scruff.
“You have no idea how glad I am you’re okay.” He whispered and started to kiss my neck. I stretched so he would have better access, “I think I have an idea.”
I was about to tell him about the attack when I heard someone clear his throat from above us. Chris’s voice from before. I turned around and saw none other than Chris smirking in the doorway. “Sorry to intrude on you love birds but I needed to borrow one of James’s shirts. Not the one you’re wearing, no worries.”
I looked at him wide eyed as I felt my face heat up.
“Chris…” James said in a warning.
“What?” he asked innocently, “I’ll be in your closet. Carry on.”
I hit James’s arm, “Awe! What was that for!?”
“Do me a favor. If this happens again, I don’t care if I’m wearing leather pants and a medieval corset that’s cutting off my circulation, leave me in them.”
“Leather pants and a corset?” he smirked at the idea.
“James!” I yelled and heard Chris chuckle as he came out of the closet.
We ate breakfast together… with Chris. Chris had a playful smirk the entire time so I could only stare at my bagel. I looked at James and he was smiling to himself too. Chris kept eyeing both of us curiously and I had never wanted to read minds more than I did that moment. He was dying to ask why we were together. But I’m sure he was assuming one thing. Not a big deal… if that was actually the reason we were together this morning. But I didn’t fail to notice actual worry cross his face when he saw us together.
They both looked at each other they had a silent conversation. James smiled reassuringly at him before Chris looked at me. “So… what happened to you?” he asked me while pointing to my arms.
James and I looked at my arms. I hadn’t noticed they were bruised. He grabbed it and looked around my arm. I heard the low growl again making me eye him curiously.
“Last night…when that vampire monster thing threw me against the wall he grabbed my arms…” I said and looked at Chris. He was wide eyed and looked at me like I was insane, “I meant mugger…”
James rubbed my back to comfort me, “Is that why you fainted baby?”
I nodded, “I think I was just exhausted and that topped it off…”
“What happened to the mugger?”
I shrugged, “I don’t know…the same person saved me that saved me last time.” I half whispered, I probably sounded insane.
“Person?” he asked his hands stopping.
“Yeah…person.”
“Who was this other person? Did you have a good look at him?” Chris asked.
I shrugged again and stared at my food. “I’m not sure. He seemed warm though. And nice.”
Chris and James stared at each other like I was insane. I forced myself to smile, “He saved me twice. I think I’m just being sentimental.”
James didn’t say anything. He was avoiding looking at me and I found it weird. I took his hand to get his attention and whispered thank you when he finally looked. He was wide eyed and Chris’s mouth was wide open.
“For…what?” he asked nervously.
“You saved me too.” I said squeezing his hand.
“How…”
“I’ve been feeling like such a stupid damsel in distress these past few days. I’m sorry you have to keep protecting me.” I whispered.
“I didn’t do anything though…” He said in denial as I went back to my food to pick at my toast. I didn’t have an appetite but I needed to eat so I forced myself to take small bites. I thought back to the second one that reminded me so much of James and the fact that he was hiding something from me didn’t sit right with me.
“You brought me here didn’t you? If you didn’t come after me… I would still be in that alley. And that first mon…mugger would come back after me.” I mumbled.
My heart sped up again at the thought of that monster. Why was this the second time I saw it? It couldn’t be a coincidence. Whatever or whoever it was, is after me.
I looked up and saw James give Chris a look telling him to leave. Chris nodded and I quickly looked down before they noticed I saw their little exchange.
“I’ll meet you at work and I’ll see you later Karina?” I looked up at Chris and smiled, “Bye Chris. Pleasure seeing you.”
“The pleasure was all mine.” He smirked mischievously.
“Chris…” James warned him. Chris laughed and went out of the home.
After I heard the door close James took my hand to get my attention, “I think you should probably stay with me for a while…”
I looked at him and considered it for a nanosecond before declining the offer, “I can’t stay with you. My family will go ballistic. I don’t want to put my life on hold because of that person. They haven’t even met you yet---” I mumbled the last part to myself.
“I could meet them… and they don’t have to know you’re staying with me it’s not like you live with them let alone near them.”
“I can’t lie to my family James…”
“Then… I can stay with you.”
Well that’s not a horrible idea. It’s not completely putting my life on hold. And it’s not completely depending on someone else. “Are you sure?” I asked.
“More than anything. I can’t sleep knowing something bad could happen to you and not being able to be close to you. I promise I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
He smiled approvingly, “If you want me to meet your family… I’m up for it. Whenever you’re ready.”
“I’d love for you to meet them…” I said happily.
***
Deciding I definitely needed some girl time I took a shower and got ready to go for some coffee with Tiffany after James dropped me off at home. He had to go by his office today but I had the weekend off. But he was going to be back tonight…because of our new agreement.
Something was suspicious though.
My mind kept going back to the second vampire thing that reminded me of James. Or maybe it’s vise-versa. Something about his eyes… but that would be impossible. James doesn’t have red eyes. I think I’m going insane.
We were meeting at Tea Bean again. Daniel’s coffee shop was our hangout spot now. It had a nice vibe and perfect view of the handsome owner for Tiffany.
She was there before me of course. And to my surprise, she was actually chatting with Daniel already. Tiffany, being the confident fun loving yoga queen that she is, becomes a shy giggling mess around Daniel. I don’t blame her though, I think I would have the same side effect too if I had not met James already.
“Hi.” I said to both of them as I sat at our usual table. She had already ordered my favorite latte and was staring at Daniel as he talked about Arabica
coffee versus Colombia coffee. If you didn’t know her as well as I did, you would not now she was not even paying attention.
“How are you doing?” he asked me as he finished.
“Great how are you?” I smiled.
“Wonderful.” He looked back at the door, “Is James with you today?”
“Nope he’s at work.” I answered.
He smiled and went back to the other customers that had entered giving us our privacy so we could talk.
“So… how are things with your lover boy.” She asked.
“I should be asking you the same thing.”
She beamed, “Isn’t Daniel hot.”
I shrugged, “Yeah I guess. But I only got eyes for one.”
She rolled her eyes, “You really got it bad. Can’t even notice Daniel’s hotness.” Daniel looked up at us with a mischievous smile. “Oh my God. Do you think he heard?!”
“I know he did.”
“So embarrassing…” she mumbled with her face buried in her hands. “Change the subject please. Talk about James.”
“What can I say? Nothing new…” I contemplated telling her about the monsters. But felt like I shouldn’t. One or two people thinking I was crazy were enough. “We got in a fight…well an argument.”
“When?!”
“Yesterday.”
She quickly calmed down and looked at my face trying to see any signs of distress. That’s my best friend, knows when to be serious and when I needed her attention, “Why? Are you guys okay now?” she asked concerned.
“Yeah we’re fine. He really doesn’t like Lana the psychic lady. I wanted to see her again but he is really against it. I have no idea why though. He won’t tell me and I have a feeling it’s much more than just not liking psychics.”
“That’s weird… is it Lana or psychic gypsies in general?”
I thought about it, “Not sure...”
“Maybe he’s hiding something from you and is scared the psychic will tell you.”
In My Veins Page 7